Cool Spot
A 1993 platformer starring 7 Up's mascot Spot.
Cool Spot is a 1993 platform game developed by Virgin Games for multiple platforms including the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and MS-DOS. The title character is Spot, the mascot for the soft drink brand 7 Up, and the game appeared during a period when other brand mascots such as Chester Cheetah and the Noid were also starring in their own video games.
- Release Year
- 1993
- Developer
- Virgin Games
- Platforms
- Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Master System, Game Gear, Game Boy, Amiga, MS-DOS
- Genre
- Single-player platform game
- Sales
- One million copies
- Sequel
- Spot Goes to Hollywood (1995)
Lore & Background
In Cool Spot, the player controls Spot, who can jump and attack by throwing soda bubbles in any direction. Spot can also cling to and climb various surfaces. Each level requires the player to rescue other cool spots from cages by collecting a certain number of 'spots' placed around the level. The player's health is shown by a humorous Spot face that gradually bends forward and falls as damage is taken. Damage occurs from touching enemies, their projectiles, and certain obstacles. A time limit applies to each level, and the game includes checkpoints in the form of flagpoles but no save feature.
Reader's Guide
Cool Spot sold one million copies and received positive reviews from several publications. Pelit gave it a score of 82%, calling it 'one of the most enjoyable platform games in a long time.' In 1995, Total! ranked the SNES version 65th on its 'Top 100 SNES Games' list, noting it was 'the game that Dave Perry really showed his talents off with. Not deep, but a great laugh.' MegaZone included Cool Spot on its 'Top 50 Games in History' list, praising its animation. In 1996, GamesMaster ranked the Genesis version 92nd on its 'Top 100 Games of All Time,' and Super Play ranked the SNES version 100th on its 'Top 100 SNES Games of All Time,' calling it 'one of the few non-Mario platformers worth anything more than a passing glance.' In 2018, Complex ranked the SNES version 88th on its 'Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time,' describing it as a 'pretty enjoyable platformer' despite its product placement. A sequel, Spot Goes to Hollywood, was released in 1995.
Did You Know?
- Cool Spot was developed by Virgin Games and released in 1993.
- The game sold one million copies.
- A sequel, Spot Goes to Hollywood, was released in 1995.
- The game includes a bonus stage where players can collect letters spelling 'UNCOLA,' 7 Up's slogan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cool Spot?
Cool Spot is a single-player platformer published in 1993 by Virgin Games, created as a promotional title for the 7 Up soft drink brand. It launched across a wide range of hardware, from Sega Genesis and SNES to handhelds like the Game Boy and Game Gear.
Who is Spot in Cool Spot?
Spot is the anthropomorphic mascot of the 7 Up soda brand and serves as the playable hero throughout the game. In 1993 he was one of several corporate mascots—alongside characters like Chester Cheetah and the Noid—receiving their own dedicated video games.
What platforms was Cool Spot released on?
The game shipped on Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Master System, Game Gear, Game Boy, Amiga, and MS-DOS. That made it one of the most widely ported branded titles of its era.
Did Cool Spot get a sequel?
Yes, a follow-up titled Spot Goes to Hollywood arrived in 1995. It continued Spot's adventures as the 7 Up mascot in a new game.
How well did Cool Spot sell?
The title moved roughly one million copies across its various platforms. For a branded promotional game in the mid-1990s, that was a solid commercial showing.
More in Advergames 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record